“I´ve run for protection …. And so the soft people have got to – shimmer and glow – put a – paper lantern over the light. … But I´m scared now – awf`ly [sic] scared.” These lines of self-revelation by Blanche DuBois, the protagonist of A Streetcar Named Desire, go hand in hand with Maggie´s words of consolation at the end of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: “Oh, you weak, beautiful people who give up with such grace. What you need is someone to take hold of you – gently, with love, and hand your life back to you, like something gold you let go of ….“ Both describe one of the most crucial, if not the most central, elements of Tennessee Williams literary work: the concept of fragility and need for protection within a universe of hostility – the notion of “soft people.”
This term paper is intended to elucidate on the topic of “soft people” within Tennessee Williams most important plays, The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire. It will try to investigate the following questions: Why did the theme “soft people” gain such prominence within Williams` work? What parallels can be detected between the author´s life and aspects of his characters? What makes Laura and Tom Wingfield, on the one hand, and Blanche DuBois, on the other hand, belong to this category? What misery do these characters share? What signifies their softness in any individual case, and what determines their fate at the end of the plays?
In order to answer these questions, a thorough look into the characters and metaphors of the plays – with help of the plays – will be provided, as well as secondary literature of a wide range of literary scholars consulted. To achieve a high and detailed level of understanding of Tennessee Williams` allusions, tropes and allegories, an examination of the playwright’s personal life will precede the analysis of his “soft people.” Moreover, to attain a profound exploration of the singularity of Tom´s situation – with respect to him being trapped within a society of mediocrity and sedation – the ideas and postulations of the Frankfurt School, the so called critical theory of industrial society, will be discussed.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Reflections of Tennessee Williams´ Life within The Glass Menagerie
3 The “Soft People” Laura Wingfield and Blanch DuBois
3.1 Laura´s Struggle with Identity
3.2 Blanche – the Moth and the Butterfly
3.3 Similarities and Differences between Laura and Blanche
4 Tom´s Singularity among Williams` “Soft People”
4.1 Conscience
4.2 Sedation of Society
4.3 Self-fulfilment vs. Deindividualization
4.4 Tom as Misfit of Society
4.5 Tom´s Family Situation and the Limits of the Critical Theory
5 Conclusion
6 References
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This paper examines the recurring motif of "soft people" in the works of Tennessee Williams, specifically focusing on Laura and Tom Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie and Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. The central research question explores why this theme is so prominent in Williams' work, what parallels exist between the author’s life and his characters' struggles, and how the concept of a "soft person" defines their fate within a hostile society.
- Analysis of the "soft people" archetype as defined by fragility and need for protection.
- Exploration of biographical parallels between Tennessee Williams and his characters.
- Application of Frankfurt School critical theory to analyze societal coercion and functionalization.
- Comparison of the coping mechanisms of Laura, Blanche, and Tom in the face of reality.
Excerpt from the Book
3. The “Soft People” Laura Wingfield and Blanch DuBois
“When people are soft – soft people have got to court the favour of hard ones, Stella.” When Blanche DuBois pours out her heart in front of her sister, this line expresses the epitome of maybe the most crucial theme Tennessee Williams applies throughout most of his plays: “The individual soul in torment and isolation” which represents the vulnerable “world of spiritual sensitivity, physical pleasure, and human tenderness” facing a “material, mechanistic, and sterile world,” which is characterized by relent- and mercilessness. The fragile sphere of these antipodes is most of the times expressed by female characters. Bigsby believes that Williams deliberately chose women to be his protagonists, since they are more susceptible to time – another prominent theme in most of his plays. It is the dimension of past of which many of his characters cannot let go. By fiercely trying to restore the days of their youth, they do damage to their present and therefore forfeit any future existence.
Hedwig Bock describes another tragic phenomenon in this constellation: It is not only the constant contemplation about the past which impedes people; it is the creation of an illusionary world which renders any potential realization impossible that the past might not be worth retrieving after all. The blurring of memory and deception, the glorification of a past which “perhaps never existed” would be the real demon which haunts Williams` protagonists. Both Laura and Blanch represent characters who must be called “soft” and who are both afflicted by time, and yet, their personalities and predicaments could not be more different.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: Introduces the concept of "soft people" in the work of Tennessee Williams and outlines the research objective to explore the fragility and isolation of key characters.
2 Reflections of Tennessee Williams´ Life within The Glass Menagerie: Examines biographical parallels, showing how the playwright's personal experiences, memories, and familial relationships are reflected in his characters.
3 The “Soft People” Laura Wingfield and Blanch DuBois: Analyzes the female protagonists as fragile individuals struggling with time, memory, and the harsh realities of their environments.
3.1 Laura´s Struggle with Identity: Focuses on Laura’s passivity, her inferiority complex, and her reliance on her glass collection as a shield against reality.
3.2 Blanche – the Moth and the Butterfly: Explores Blanche’s reliance on illusion, her fear of reality, and her constant, failed attempts to navigate a world that is inherently hostile to her.
3.3 Similarities and Differences between Laura and Blanche: Compares the two characters, highlighting how Laura is paralyzed by her own self-perception, while Blanche actively maintains a deceptive, illusionary persona.
4 Tom´s Singularity among Williams` “Soft People”: Investigates Tom Wingfield’s unique position, focusing on his awareness of societal constraints and his internal struggle.
4.1 Conscience: Discusses Tom’s ability to understand the fate of his family, setting him apart from other characters who are unaware of their own dependence.
4.2 Sedation of Society: Explores the societal mechanisms, such as entertainment and film, used to distract people and maintain a state of numbness.
4.3 Self-fulfilment vs. Deindividualization: Analyzes the conflict between an individual’s desire for freedom and the dehumanizing demands of an industrial society.
4.4 Tom as Misfit of Society: Addresses Tom’s role as a social outsider whose spirit is crushed by routine, pushing him toward poetry and eventual rebellion.
4.5 Tom´s Family Situation and the Limits of the Critical Theory: Discusses the tension between Tom’s desire to escape and his sense of responsibility toward his family, noting the limitations of theory in resolving such complex dilemmas.
5 Conclusion: Summarizes the study’s findings, emphasizing the versatility of Williams’ characters and his underlying plea for a more human and compassionate world.
6 References: Provides the academic bibliography used throughout the paper.
Keywords
Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, Soft People, Fragility, Isolation, Critical Theory, Frankfurt School, Identity, Illusion, Reality, Tom Wingfield, Laura Wingfield, Blanche DuBois, Social Outsider
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the concept of "soft people" in Tennessee Williams' plays, exploring how fragile and sensitive characters struggle to survive in a harsh, industrial, and materialistic world.
What are the primary themes explored in the text?
The main themes include fragility, the struggle between illusion and reality, the impact of the past on the present, societal alienation, and the loss of individual identity in industrial society.
What is the author's primary research goal?
The goal is to elucidate why the theme of "soft people" is so prominent in Williams' work and to explain how characters like Laura, Tom, and Blanche share an underlying sensitivity that leads to their isolation and struggle.
Which scientific method is utilized in this analysis?
The analysis employs literary criticism combined with sociological and philosophical perspectives, specifically applying the Critical Theory of the Frankfurt School (Horkheimer, Adorno, Marcuse) to analyze the characters' social situations.
What topics are covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section covers the biographical context of the plays, a character study of Laura and Blanche, a detailed analysis of Tom Wingfield's struggle with societal functionalization, and the inherent tension between his desire for freedom and his familial obligations.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Key terms include Tennessee Williams, soft people, alienation, industrial society, Frankfurt School, and illusion, among others.
How does Tom Wingfield differ from the other "soft" characters in the plays?
Tom is unique because he is fully aware of the trap he is in. Unlike Blanche or Amanda, who escape into illusions, Tom understands the coercive and functionalizing nature of the society he inhabits, which drives his desire for an "adventure" beyond his current life.
What is the role of the Frankfurt School in the author's argument?
The author uses Critical Theory to analyze how modern industrial society suppresses individual subjectivity. Tom's situation is interpreted as an example of an individual fighting against a society that demands complete functionalization.
How does the author interpret the ending of The Glass Menagerie regarding Laura?
The author suggests an alternative interpretation to typical scholarly views, proposing that the ending might not signify Laura's total destruction, but rather a "cleansing night" that could lead to a new dawn of self-determination.
- Citar trabajo
- Toni Friedrich (Autor), 2010, The “Soft People” of Laura and Tom Wingfield in 'The Glass Menagerie' and Blanche DuBois in 'A Streetcar named Desire' , Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/184582
